Opta Stats: Goals to flow as Chelsea take on West Ham

15Mar 2013

England - Premier League

Looking ahead to the weekend's Premier League games, Christian Crowther offers four stats and four accompanying bets...

Stoke v West Brom (Saturday, 15:00)

Five of Stoke's last six Premier League home games have gone over 2.5 goals with four of them going over 3.5 goals

Stoke's woes continued at St James' Park last Sunday as Newcastle completed their third successive home comeback to render Jonathan Walters' 67th-minute penalty meaningless. Stoke have seemingly lost the defensive resoluteness for which they had become so renowned under Tony Pulis. Meanwhile, West Brom have scored at least twice in three of their last four league games and are sure to test the home side again.

Recommended Bet: Back Over 2.5 goals @ 2.2

Sunderland v Norwich, (Sunday, 13:30, Sky Sports 1)

Norwich have scored only one first-half goal in their nine Premier League games in 2013 so far

Sunderland are in real danger of getting stuck in the relegation quicksand. It's no win in six games for the Black Cats and four of those matches have resulted in defeat for Martin O'Neill's table-tumblers. However, the visit of Norwich presents a gilt-edged opportunity for a win and top scorer Steven Fletcher's habit of firing first - he's done it more times than any other Premier League player - could set them on their way.

Tottenham v Fulham (Sunday, 15:00)

Fulham have scored a total of only two goals in their last eight top-flight games against Spurs

Tottenham should be safely in the Europa League quarter-finals by the time that they entertain their capital city rivals. Andre Villas-Boas' side's defending was as poor as it had been all season in gifting Liverpool the points at Anfield last week, but you don't go 12 games unbeaten without having a tight unit at the back. Tottenham haven't conceded more than one at home in any competition since Chelsea won at White Hart Lane back in October.

Recommended Bet: Back Tottenham to keep a clean sheet @ 2.42

Chelsea v West Ham (Sunday, 16:00)

Three of the last four Premier League games between Chelsea and West Ham have gone over 3.5 goals

If the last few encounters between these two London rivals are anything to go by, Sky Sports may just regret making the Wigan game their featured 16:00 fanfare. The return fixture produced West Ham's most notable result of the season, a 3-1 pummelling of the Blues, so Chelsea will need no incentive at Stamford Bridge. It's now four games in a row that one side has scored at least three goals in this derby.

Recommended Bet: Back over 3.5 goals @ 2.4